Cable wrench



June 4, 1929. w. o. PARKER 1,715,425

CABLE WRENCH Filed April 5, 1928 Patented June 4, 1929.

wrLmAM o. PARKER,

0F TOPEKA, KANSAS.

CABLE WRENCH.

Application filed April 5,

My invention relates to a cable wrench.

The object of my invention is to provide a wrench to re-twist steel cables.

A further object of my invention isto pro- .vide a wrench having removable jaws as means to conform to cables of different diameter. j

Astill further object of my invention is to provide a wrench that will automatically increase its gripping tension while twisting the cable.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a non-frictional arrangement to close the jaws of a wrench.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a wrench that will automatically lock the jaws when closed to snug engage ment in the crotch of the bifurcation of the lever.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a bracing means for the lever to relieve excess tension at the pivot connection of thehandle to its respective jaw member.

These and other objects will hereinafter be more fully explained, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein like charactcrs will apply to like parts throughout the different views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a pla-n View, partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a transverse view of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an opposite transverse view to 2, parts removed for convenience of illustration.

F l is a plan view of the wrench in an extreme open position. v

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the wrench in the operation of closing the jaws, said view beingl partly in section, and the outer portion of the lever removed..

Fig. 6 is an inside view of the ball bearing leg, parts removed for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the cable gripping member, showing the slot.

Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. 9..

My invention herein disclosed consists of an arrangement for a wrench, having a lever 'l that is bifurcated at one end thereof. The leg 2 of the bifurcation is adapted to pivot ally engage one of the jaw members 3 as at l. l The leg 5 of the bifurcation functions as a brace member contacting the other aw member 6as at A, when the jaws are Closed as shown in Fig. l ,and simultaneously there- 1928. Serial No. 267,656.

with the outer end of the said jaw member 6 moves to transverse alignment with the pivot point 4, relative to the longitudinal axis of the lever, and when so positioned the jaw members are locked together and the tension imposed thereby does not tend to rock the aws at the pivot point 4e.

`Axiallypositioned in the leg 5 is a ball race 7 said race is of sufficient length to receive a plurality of balls 8 and a recoil spring 9, the spring functioning as means to retract the balls toward the outer end of the race. As a means to close the race, I have provided a stud l() threadedly engaging in the outer end thereof, by which means the balls and spring may be removed and replaced. Longitudinally positioned on the inner side of leg 5 is a slot 11, through which a portion of the'balls will extend as contact means for the free end of the jaw member 6 as a ball bearing feature when the wrenc i is being closed on a cable l2, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

The said jaw members are hingedly connected as at 13, the same being similar to a rule joint, having stops 14 on each member to prevent excess out-ward rocking. Housed within each of the jaw members and within close proximity to the hinge joint is a cable Vgripping member 15, having a smooth seat to receive the steel cable, by which means mutilation of the strands of the cable is eliminated; said gripping members are in parallelism to each other and dovetailed longitudinally and transversely forsnug engagement when positioned as shown in Fig. 2. As a means to prevent retraction, a screw 16 threadedly engages in each of the aw members, the inner end'of which extends through a longitudinally positioned slot 17, as shown in Fig. 7, by which means the said gripping members are secured from retraction.

It will be understood that the proper time for applying my wrench, herein disclosed, is when the cable is pendently supporting a line of tools in'an oil. well, the tools being free to revolve, and the weight of which tends to unwind the cable, and being iieitible and capable of unwinding, the point of the tool is made to contact at different points radially in the bottom of the well. Should the wind ing of the cable fail to function for the purpose, the tools are partially elevated, and the wrench is applied to the cable in the manner herein described as a twisting means, by re volving in one direction until thestrands of the cable are normally twisted to their original or' normal degree; andV after being so treated, the process of drilling Will continue in the usual rotation required for the tools. lt Will further be understood that should the line of tools in the Well bind or fail to respond to the rotary movement in twisting the cable, a swivel is provided as a connecting means tor the cable to the tools; therefore, the twisting of the cable will `not be prevented, as the bearing ofV the cable over the headbloclr sheaveand other pnlleysor drums employed, is freeV to rotate under theV tension imposed by the Wrencln Snolrmodications may be employed as lie Within the scope ot the appended claims.

HavingY fully described` my; invention, what l claim new and desireftosecnre by Let-ters Patent is: Y

1. ln a cable Wrenelna leverh'aving a bitnr'catien at oneend thereof, a pair ofjaw membershinged'ly Conner-ted, one of the -aws pivotally engaging with the outer end o ione leg oit the lever bitnrcation, the other jaw member slidably engaging on the other leg et the lever bifurcation as closing means for the jaws.

2. ln acable Wrench, a bifnreated lever andA af pair el hingedly connected jaw-s, the onterendio'lf oneof the law me'mb pivotally carried by one leg olf the lever bifurcation, a; ball bearingv arrai'iged inthe other leg otthe lever b-iiiii'r'eation.;to` engage with the'iiree end of the other jaw member as'closing means for the j anis, ai cableseat carried byiea'ch ofl the jaw members 1 in parallelismi 3. In a cable Wrench, al lever having' one end binreated, one leg` of the bifurcation.- in alignment with the shalt't of. the lever, the other leg laterally' extending,- af slotted ball race axially positioned in thefirst mentioned leo' arecoil: spring and balls positioned in l theraee, the balls partiallyerposed-through the slot and tensioned toward the outer end by the spring, a pair of jaws hingedly connected, and a pair of cable gripping members removably arranged, there being one attached to each of the jaws in parallelism and Working relation to each other, the said jaws being pivotally carried and clamped together by rocking the lever to engagement With the 'free member of the'jaw, the ball bearing reducing 'the friotion when the clamp is closed.

l. In a cable Wrench, in combination, a pair of jaws hingedly connected, a2 grip member detachably` carriedby the inside Wall ot each ot the jaws and in closeV proximity to the hinge, a lever pivotally attached to one el? the jaw members, and a ball bearing positioned in the lever in Working relationto the pivot`V engagement of' the grip member and the lever, so that by rocking the ball bearing engagement- With the other jaw member, 'the said-jaws areclosed rigidly, for the purpose described.

ln a. cable Wrench, apair of' jaw inembers hingedly connected, and a cable gripping member dove-tailed in each o'f the jaw members and in Working relationto each other, a lever being bifnrcated at one end, one leg ci the bifurcation being; shorter than the other and pivotally engaging the enter end oi one member of the jaw, the long leg ci the biliar-cation having a ball` bearing arranged longitudinally therein tov engage with the outer end of the member ol the jaws as the jaws are rocked lo'engagement with a cable. theouter end ol the long leg of the bifurcation'to bear on the jan7 in el'oseproximityv to the cable gripping means as tensioning means to move the last saidY jaws toward the other While the cable is being twisted, through' the medium of the lever.

. ln testimony Whereoir I albi; inv- Vinfna'tnre.

Wimmer o. P14-nnen. 

